A. There is hereby established in the Louisiana Department of Health a commission
designated the Louisiana Obesity Prevention and Management Commission ("commission"),
composed of ten members as provided for in this Section. The commission may accept and
expend grants and private donations from any source, including federal, state, public, and
private entities, to assist it to carry out its functions.

B. The powers, functions, and duties of the commission shall include but not be
limited to the following:

(1) Assisting the executive departments and agencies in achieving programmatic
goals. To this end, the commission shall provide leadership and support for:

(b) Articulating standards through the dissemination of materials, identification of
expert opinion, identification of alternate means of developing effective population-based
programs, and development of policy in identified health risks.

(c) Creating awareness among payers, providers, and patients of the health risks due
to overweight and obesity conditions.

(d) Enhancing reporting mechanisms of latest outcomes and health trends in the area
of overweight and obesity concerns.

(e) Conducting evaluations of program effectiveness.

(f) Encouraging research and the identification of resources that seek ways to
promote cost-effective methods of treating overweight and obesity conditions.

(2) Assisting in conducting exploratory research as deemed necessary with the intent
of achieving programmatic objectives.

(3) Conducting public meetings to discuss obesity.

(4) Advising and assisting participating agencies with the development and
implementation of obesity programs.

(5) Analyzing what other entities across the state are doing to combat obesity.

(6) Advising the executive departments and agencies as to the implementation of the
commission's recommendations.

C. The commission shall convene its first meeting no later than August 31, 2014. At
the first meeting the chairman and vice chairman of the commission shall be appointed by
the secretary of the Louisiana Department of Health with the consultation and approval of
the commission. The commission may adopt such rules of procedure as are necessary to
facilitate orderly conduct of its business.

D. The commission shall be composed of the following members:

(1) The secretary of the Louisiana Department of Health, or his designee.

(2) The state superintendent of education, or his designee.

(3) The commissioner of insurance, or his designee.

(4) The president of the Senate, or his designee.

(5) The speaker of the House of Representatives, or his designee.

(6) The director of the Pennington Biomedical Research Center, or his designee.

(7) The director of the Prevention Research Center at Tulane University, or his
designee.

(8) Two members from community-based groups elected by the other commission
members at their first meeting. These two members shall serve a term of two years and may
be elected by the other commission members to serve additional terms.

(9) The director of the Cecil J. Picard Center for Child Development and Lifelong
Learning, or his designee.

E. Nonlegislative members of the commission shall not be entitled to per diem or any
other compensation for their service but shall be entitled to reimbursement of any necessary
and reasonable expense incurred in the performance of their duties on the commission,
including travel expenses. Each legislative member of the commission shall receive the
same per diem and travel reimbursement for attending meetings of the commission as is
normally provided for members of the legislature.

F. The commission shall meet at least quarterly. Meetings shall also be held on call
of the chairman or at the request of at least three members of the commission. Presence of
a majority of the members of the commission shall constitute a quorum.

G. The commission shall submit an annual report, including proposed legislation if
necessary, to the governor and to the health and welfare committees of the Senate and House
of Representatives, sixty days prior to the convening of each regular legislative session. The
report shall update the legislature on the commission's progress toward full implementation
of services and programs in the state to increase prevention and management of the disease
of obesity in adults and children.

H. The legislative authority for the existence of the commission shall cease on March
31, 2018.

Acts 2014, No. 580, §2, eff. June 9, 2014; Acts 2016, No. 186, §1.

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